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Best language app I’ve used.
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Why Learn German?
Looking to learn the German language from the get-go? With the the Pimsleur Method™, you’ll learn to speak German in no time. Pimsleur German courses put you in complete control of your journey to newfound linguistic knowledge – but there’s more! Thanks to Pimsleur’s proven method for learning and language retention, you’ll be able to speak German more quickly in real-world situations (menu ordering, asking for directions, etc.).
Study German on your own terms; 75% of Pimsleur users learn to speak a new language while on the go. Whether you’re in front of your desktop computer or on the go – our popular Pimsleur app is ideal for busy lifestyles – it’s never been easier or more fun to learn the German language!
German is the official language of Germany and Austria. Nearly 100 million people speak it as their first language, and an additional 80-85 million speak it as their second language. German is also an official language in Belgium, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, and even the African nation of Namibia.
What’s more, German is commonly spoken as a minority language in Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and many other countries. In fact, only a handful of languages are more widely spoken than German.
When you learn German, you’ll not only be able to speak with native German speakers, but you’ll also:
- Expand your cultural horizons as you study German.
- Enhance travel experiences.
- Broaden knowledge of local customs.
- And much more!
Think learning to speak German is too difficult? Think again with Pimsleur – our innovative, intuitive approach will soon have you conversing in German like you were born in Berlin!
The Best Way to Learn the German Language
Our instruction method helps you grasp a relatively small subset of key words and structures, so you’re not overwhelmed as you learn to speak German. Since our German lessons are focused around the context of typical exchanges and conversations, organic learning is fostered and encouraged. This process of learning German is much more organic and natural than other language lessons.
Similar to how a child learns to speak, you’ll learn by listening, which is essential if your goal is to learn to speak German. You naturally store away new words and phrases you hear, and that’s the basis for our German lessons. Along with our effective learn-by-listening techniques, you’ll also enjoy the added benefit of learning wherever you happen to be. Take Pimsleur’s German courses while jogging, doing the dishes, or simply relaxing. On the go educational fun has never been more convenient!
Before you know it, you’ll automatically remember the correct word or structure to use. Pimsleur is simply the best way – the most natural way – to learn German.
Why Choose Pimsleur for German Lessons?
The Pimsleur Method is a scientifically proven way to learn the German language. Our German courses utilize key concepts like Core Vocabulary, Graduated Interval Recall, and the Principle of Anticipation to accelerate your learning progress.
Once you’ve completed your Pimsleur German courses, you can use your newfound vocabulary and memory recall to gain a new understanding of German culture. Pimsleur allows you to easily learn German, thanks to our emphasis on comprehension, pronunciation, and knowledge retention. See for yourself and sign up with Pimsleur – learn to speak German today!
Speak with Confidence. Read like a Native.
Through his research, Dr. Pimsleur found that traditional teaching methods like memorizing vocabulary, conjugating verbs, and practicing grammar actually SLOW DOWN your ability to learn. He called them the kiss of total silence because they made it nearly impossible to speak. It's the reason learning a language feels so difficult, when it should feel totally natural.
It makes sense when you think about it. Have you ever seen a toddler memorizing vocabulary lists? Or picking out parts of speech in a sentence diagram? Of course not. Children learn language the way we were meant to ‐ by listening. That's because we are hardwired to remember sounds and store them in our memory automatically.
It's the same way you pick up a song on the radio. You don't have to study the lyrics or understand musical notes and chords to remember a song. Chances are, if you hear a song once you can sing along the next time you hear it.
Don't miss out. Try Pimsleur today while your first week is FREE!
Common Questions About Learning German
Is German a difficult language to learn?
How long does it take to learn German?
What are the main challenges when learning the German language?
As noted, there are some long German words. There’s streichholzschächtelchen (matches again), of course, but don’t forget unabhängigkeitserklärungen (independence announcements), and nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit (food intolerance). No worries! Pimsler’s spoken approach helps novices get over the uncertainty of actually speaking German. Our learning platform structured audio lessons help you break down the language word by word and phrase by phrase to help you become comfortable learning German. Instead of focusing on reading and grammar, Pimsleur puts you in the driver’s seat by sounding out words and learning the nuances of speaking German.
With Pimsleur, you’ll take German lessons at your leisure or during dedicated times devoted to learning. About three-quarters of Pimsleur customers learn to speak German in their downtime – while out walking the dog, driving in the car, or simply relaxing at home. One thing’s for sure – your daily activities and to-do lists won’t get in the way of you learning the German language.
How important is pronunciation in learning German?
Like any other language, pronunciation is an important element when learning to speak a new tongue. Given German’s consonant-heavy structure and long word format (relative to other languages), knowing proper pronunciation is paramount as you study German. The German language has many sounds that aren’t directly related to English, which makes our listen-and-speak approach ideal for learning the language. For example, the German Open-Mid Front Rounded Vowel [œ] is found in words like "hören" (to hear) and "schön" (beautiful). This sound mimics the sound "ur" in "nurse" in British English but with rounded lips. Each time you encounter a new, unfamiliar sound, you will get the opportunity to learn and practice out loud with our clear and simple backwards breakdown technique.
Pimsleur’s unique combination of skill-building lessons and user-friendly resources – including our innovative AI Voice recognition pronunciation feedback – put an emphasis on not only pronunciation, but other factors that contribute to speaking German properly, like pace and cadence. Our goal is to help you learn German so you’re able to converse with a native German speaker, with fluid pronunciation and all!
Is the German course suitable for complete beginners?
Pimsleur’s German courses are flexible enough to accommodate any baseline knowledge. Of course, with previous exposure to German (perhaps a few high school courses or a relative who speaks the language), you’re already off the starting blocks. However, complete beginners will absolutely learn with (and love) our German courses and lessons. You don’t need any previous knowledge of the German language to start learning!
Pimsleur is ideal for beginners because we break down the new sounds and train your brain to decipher new sounds essential to German. An English narrator guides you along with explanations to help you learn new concepts, all while focusing on the most widely used vocabulary words. With these building blocks, you'll build confidence as you use this base knowledge to speak your own sentences – in fact, you're asked to do just that as you progress through our German lessons. Beginner-level and intermediate speakers learn German in the most efficient and fun way with Pimsleur!
